On 18 October 2023 at the 74th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines, IFPMA submitted a statement on agenda item 11: Health security.

IFPMA welcomes the opportunity to provide comments in relation to this agenda item. The COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing anti-microbial resistance crisis, and climate change induced extreme weather events, among others, all serve as a reminder of the need for global, regional, and national prevention, preparedness, readiness, and response to these increasingly common, multi-hazard public health threats.

The recognition by the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework that “health security is everyone’s business” and the need for strengthening multisectoral coordination, including with the private sector, are important for developing and implementing robust health security frameworks.

When responding to public health threats, a resilient, sustainable, and high-quality private sector in the health and life science industry is critical for the development, manufacturing, supply, distribution, and availability of medicines and other health technologies such as vaccines, medical devices, and diagnostics. To support a sustainable innovation ecosystem, policies need to focus on several factors, including stable rule of law, open trade, and a business environment backed by sustainable financing as well as robust intellectual property protections that promote voluntary collaborations.

About IFPMA

IFPMA represents the innovative pharmaceutical industry at the international level, engaging in official relations with the United Nations and multilateral organizations. Our vision is to ensure that scientific progress translates into the next generation of medicines and vaccines that deliver a healthier future for people everywhere.

To achieve this, we act as a trusted partner, bringing our members' expertise to champion pharmaceutical innovation, drive policy that supports the research, development, and delivery of health technologies, and create sustainable solutions that advance global health.

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Elliot Dunster e.dunster@ifpma.org